Alright, I'm at the end of my rope.
I had another thread in the General Forum, but this is the proper place for it. System specs:
Pentium 4 3.0GHz (Hyper-Threading Enabled) (OC'd to barely 3.2)
Windows XP Pro SP2
Nvidia 7800GT 256MB
3.00 GB of RAM DDR2
I'm having the common issue of: many models = horrible frame rate
This is the only issue I have.
I've been monitoring my CPU, Virtual memory, HDD, and RAM usage with CleanMemXP.
While FFXI is running, the CPU sits at 54-56% usage (with Hyper Threading enabled), or 100% (with hyper-threading disabled) whenever there are multiple models on the screen.
My shadows and weather are off, and my resolution is at a modest setting. I've tried every manner of configuration with no luck.
FFXI seems to ONLY be utilizing my CPU, the other forms of memory (RAM, HDD, and Virtual) are ALL sitting at ZERO.
Really? Seriously? There's all that potential and it's tapping NONE of it? Come on, really?
(love and kisses for help and explanations)
- Forums
- Cross Site
- Computer Hardware & Troubleshooting
- Does FFXI REALLY only utilize the CPU?
Does FFXI REALLY only utilize the CPU?Follow
Well there is your problem I mean seriously. . .
Joking, Joking.
My setup does the same thing, I have a AMD running overclocked at 3.9Ghz and it still pulls processing up to 80% at times.
Your frame rate, are you capping at 30 by chance or are you seeing averages like 15? There are muliple ways of checking this, either with the "illegal" windower, other 3rd party application such as fraps and many others.
Your system is obviously good enough, I am suspecting your frame rate issue and model issue is actually being caused by your graphics card. Your card is pretty current and should work well with FFXI however in Nvidia smart "support" for FFXI made their drivers so picky that it's not even funny.
I would suggest updating to the most current drivers for your card, then work backwards to see which ones are the best. I had a similar issue on one of the boxes I have running a 7950GTX where Bard spells and now Dancer spells would almost freeze my machine for no reason and it turned out to be a GPU driver.
I hope this helps you out so you can enjoy the game again, I know how much it sucks to see all the glitches.
Quote:
Pentium 4
Joking, Joking.
My setup does the same thing, I have a AMD running overclocked at 3.9Ghz and it still pulls processing up to 80% at times.
Your frame rate, are you capping at 30 by chance or are you seeing averages like 15? There are muliple ways of checking this, either with the "illegal" windower, other 3rd party application such as fraps and many others.
Your system is obviously good enough, I am suspecting your frame rate issue and model issue is actually being caused by your graphics card. Your card is pretty current and should work well with FFXI however in Nvidia smart "support" for FFXI made their drivers so picky that it's not even funny.
I would suggest updating to the most current drivers for your card, then work backwards to see which ones are the best. I had a similar issue on one of the boxes I have running a 7950GTX where Bard spells and now Dancer spells would almost freeze my machine for no reason and it turned out to be a GPU driver.
I hope this helps you out so you can enjoy the game again, I know how much it sucks to see all the glitches.
Scholar
48 posts
I've been testing in Whitegate around the Auction House because that really gives me the best benchmark for the rest of the game. If I stare dead on at the auction windows, the framerate will plummet every time a new model fades into view. Starts at a steady 29.4 or whatever, then just steadily goes down, reaching close to 8 or 9 at its worst. When I face the back wall and there are like 2 people including me, it jumps back up to 29.4/5, smooth as before.
I'll try stepping gradually backwards with the video card drivers.
It's just strange to me that it's not even utilizing my VIRTUAL memory to help it not chug. I've allocated 15 gigs of FFXI's install drive for virtual memory and I don't even see a blip on the scale. My RAM is non-defunct and there's 3 gigs of it (2 of which XP recognizes), and FFXI doesn't even use any of that. It's like "HURGLE DURGLE ONLY CPU"
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll report back
I'll try stepping gradually backwards with the video card drivers.
It's just strange to me that it's not even utilizing my VIRTUAL memory to help it not chug. I've allocated 15 gigs of FFXI's install drive for virtual memory and I don't even see a blip on the scale. My RAM is non-defunct and there's 3 gigs of it (2 of which XP recognizes), and FFXI doesn't even use any of that. It's like "HURGLE DURGLE ONLY CPU"
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll report back
You can actually force your hardware to take over some of the functions that FFXI would normally shuttle off through the processor. I'm on an ATI so I'm not sure how to do it on an Nvidia, but once I unchecked a few buttons and tweaked some hardware settings, I cut my lag and increased the framerate considerably.
The hardware can do it better, but FFXI doesn't know that. XD
The hardware can do it better, but FFXI doesn't know that. XD
Lady catwho wrote:
You can actually force your hardware to take over some of the functions that FFXI would normally shuttle off through the processor. I'm on an ATI
I think they were talking about increasing it's processing priority which is done by;
1. ctrl + alt + delete then bring up the "Task Manager"
2. Right click on the "pol.exe"
3. Select "Set Priority" then change it from low to normal or above normal.
I am not sure why however it's SE great wisdom decided to set their game in a "low" system processing which means Windows XP/Vista will do anything and everything for the most part before Final Fantasy XI.
What the post about tweaking setting on your card is mainly just adjusting the performance of how it handles DirectX with more processing or more detail. ATI Cat software has that option among others to change these settings. This does cut down lag providing it's card side and not system.
Edited, Dec 13th 2007 5:32pm by xXBijiontXx
1. ctrl + alt + delete then bring up the "Task Manager"
2. Right click on the "pol.exe"
3. Select "Set Priority" then change it from low to normal or above normal.
I am not sure why however it's SE great wisdom decided to set their game in a "low" system processing which means Windows XP/Vista will do anything and everything for the most part before Final Fantasy XI.
What the post about tweaking setting on your card is mainly just adjusting the performance of how it handles DirectX with more processing or more detail. ATI Cat software has that option among others to change these settings. This does cut down lag providing it's card side and not system.
Edited, Dec 13th 2007 5:32pm by xXBijiontXx
You need the ATI Catalyst software installed.
Turn off FFXI since this will mess with the rendering engine and crash it.
Go to Display Properties, Settings, Advanced, and on that Catalyst tab select Direct 3D. Under Anisotropic filtering, uncheck Application preference, then slide your bar all the way over to 16X.
Congrats, FFXI is now acknowledging the superiority of your video card.
There are other things you can do, but this alone fixes many problems for ATI hardware.
Turn off FFXI since this will mess with the rendering engine and crash it.
Go to Display Properties, Settings, Advanced, and on that Catalyst tab select Direct 3D. Under Anisotropic filtering, uncheck Application preference, then slide your bar all the way over to 16X.
Congrats, FFXI is now acknowledging the superiority of your video card.
There are other things you can do, but this alone fixes many problems for ATI hardware.
@Lady catwho
No idea how that worked, but I'm now running about 3 times faster in formerly extremely laggy areas. An interesting find. Thanks.
No idea how that worked, but I'm now running about 3 times faster in formerly extremely laggy areas. An interesting find. Thanks.
pandoraxero wrote:
No idea how that worked, but I'm now running about 3 times faster in formerly extremely laggy areas. An interesting find. Thanks.
Seconded, absolutely brilliant advice: rate up!
Onion Party on Youtube - Blind run Lets Plays in FFXIV
I think it's because when FFXI came out for PC, the minimum system specs were what the game defaulted to. These days our hardware is capable of much greater things, so FFXI doesn't have to be paranoid and maintain full control of the 3D rendering.
Essentially, ATI cards can be set to pat FFXI on the shoulder and say, "It's okay baby, let the hardware handle it."
Hardware processing = better, on everything from video cards to virtualized servers.
Essentially, ATI cards can be set to pat FFXI on the shoulder and say, "It's okay baby, let the hardware handle it."
Hardware processing = better, on everything from video cards to virtualized servers.
Recent Visitors: 13
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (13)
- Forums
- Cross Site
- Computer Hardware & Troubleshooting
- Does FFXI REALLY only utilize the CPU?
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC